Service users’ first accounts of experiencing endings from a psychological service or therapy: A systematic review and meta-ethnographic synthesis

Purpose: To review and synthesize the qualitative literature on service users’ experiences of endings from a psychological service or therapy. Methods: A systematic search of the peer-reviewed literature identified qualitative studies meeting specific inclusion criteria. A modified CASP tool was used to critically appraise their quality, and a meta-ethnographic approach was used to synthesize their findings. Results: Twelve papers met the inclusion criteria. The interpretation of findings suggested three key themes: anticipation of ending, service user control, and sense of responsibility. Although studies varied in geographical location and type of service, they were consistently of high quality. Conclusions: The review highlights the importance of service users’ perspectives in understanding the experiences of endings. The findings complement existing literature and provide new interpretations. Considerations for practice were limited; however, the review provides useful directions for future research